Jainas in History of Indian Literature

Author(s): Jinvijay
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

Page 69

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JAINAS IN INDIAN LITERATURE
This is an excellent work on dramaturgy. I have a manuscript with me. During my stay in Shivpuri (Gwalior State) at the end of January 1923 my honoured friend the Upadhyaya Indravijaya kindly lent me a copy of the Natyadarpand, taken from the original Ms. but it is not yet printed. It contains many interesting quotations. The Mrcchơkatika is frequently quoted, while the Daridra-cārudatta is only mentioned (unfortunately without the author's name). From Bhāsa's Svapnavāsavadatta a verse is quoted, which, however, is not found in Ganapati Šāstri's edition (in the 4th Act where we might expect it). As an example of an anumāna we find the following: - यथा भासकृते खप्नवासवदत्ते शेफालिकामराडपशिलातलमवलोक्य वत्सराजः।
पादाक्रान्तानि पुष्पाणि सोष्म चेदं शिलातलम् ।
नूनं काचिदिहासीना मां दृष्ट्वा सहसा गता ॥ पूर्वार्धं लिङ्गमुत्तरार्धमनुमानम् ॥
Many plays are quoted as 3H595. Are they the joint work of the two disciples of Hemacandra, or only the work of Ramacandra? Amongst the dramas most frequently quoted are Tāpasavatsarāja, Ratnāvali, Venīsamhāra, and Krtyārāvana. The Anargharāghava is quoted once. Višākhadatta was hitherto only known as the author of the Mudrārāksasa. In the Natyadarpana commentary he is also quoted as the author of a Devicandragupta Nātaka.
A critical edition of this highly interesting work would be very desirable. But more manuscripts ought to be found.